Sussing Out the Walk to Hilbre Island

Little Eye, Big Eye and Hilbre Islands

The photos on this page were taken from the western end of the West Kirby Marina, a short walk from the station.

The above photo shows the Little Eye, the Big Eye and Hilbre Island. At low tide it’s possible to walk out to these three islands. You walk from the marine lake slipway to the Little Eye first, it’s the small island on the left. From there you walk directly to the Big Eye and then Hilbre Island itself. It’s safe to cross three hours after high tide. If you don’t want to be stranded, you need to return three hours before the next high tide. It takes around an hour to walk from the slipway to Hilbre Island. Before you walk, check the notice board on the slipway.

There’s more information on the Friend of Hilbre website. These people have open days, usually once a month from April through to October. The times depend on the tides.

The tide times can be seen here and here. Both sites also have information about the walk.

I couldn’t do the walk today, but it’s now on my list of things to do when I’m in Liverpool. The only problem now is finding a bright and sunny day when the tides are right. To allow me to complete the walk between one and two in the afternoon, so I can have a well-earned drink or three in the West Kirby Tap. Given all the pools of water on the beach, I think you really need to take a change of footwear with you.

Mum tells me I’ve been there before. My aunty Joyce and uncle John lived in West Kirby and I remember going over there a lot as a child. I remember playing on the beach and in the dunes, but not a visit to the islands. If I did, I was probably too young to remember, it’s not the sort of thing you’d forget as a child.

Little Eye Island

Hilbre Island and Big Eye (Little Hilbre) Island

North Wales across the Dee estuary

Looking towards Hilbre Point, Hoylake

You mustn’t walk out to the islands from the Hilbre Point; there’s a deep muddy channel blocking your crossing.

Western end of the marina

The walk along the marina looks interesting, though you need to take care at hight tide due to crashing waves.

The marina looking up the River Dee

North Wales across the Dee estuary